ALLECTUS was the first minister and confidential servant of Carausius, who reigned in Britain after that island was declared to be independent of Rome, A. D. 287. Prompted by ambition to usurp the regal dignity, as well as desirous to avoid the punishment of his crimes, lie put Carausius to death, and established him self upon the throne. But his elevation was not of long continuance. For Constantius, having fitted out a pow erful squadron, with a view to recover the island from the dominion of the usurper, ordered it to assemble at the mouth of the Seine, and gave the command of it to Asclepiodotus the prefect. This officer was not inat tentive to the duty to which he was called. Availing himself of a thick fog, as William the Conqueror did in later times, he escaped the notice of the fleet of Allectus, which was stationed near the Isle of Wight, and landed on the western coast. No sooner had Ascle piodotus landed, than he set fire to his ships, resolving either to subdue the usurper, or to perish in the attempt.
In the mean time, Allectus had taken his station in the neighbourhood of London, expecting an attack from Constantius, who lay off Boulogne with his fleet; hut. informed of the descent of Asclepiodotus, he hastened by forced marches to the western coast, in order to repel the invaders. A severe action followed : but the troops of Allectus, being fatigued and dispirited, were routed by the imperial army, and he himself was left dead on the field of battle. Immediately after this en gagement, Constantius landed on the shore of Kent, and was received with the loudest acclamations of joy, and the testimonies of universal obedience. And thus, England, having been separated from the empire for about ten years, was again brought under the dominion of Rome. Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the loin. Lint'. vol. i. (h)